Harleston Magpies sponsored by Musker McIntyre Estate Agents welcomed Hampstead and Westminster to a very cold, wet and windy Weybread, hoping for payback after their last minute defeat earlier in the season.

Magpies started the game with a good tempo and played well as a team to put Hampstead and Westminster’s defence under pressure and create some goal scoring opportunities. Hampstead and Westminster almost opened the scoring mid way through the half with a deft lob, only for the shot to be tipped past the post by an alert Kath Johnson on the goal-line. Five minutes before half-time the deadlock was broken, after a quick turn-over Abby Gooderham found Susan Wessels in space to smash home an excellent reverse stick shot into the net and past the flailing Hampstead and Westminster keeper.

Hampstead and Westminster came out after half-time with a real desire to get back into the game, forcing Magpies to defend deeper and deeper. After a number of consecutive short corners, Hampstead and Westminster got back on level terms with a drag from the top of the circle into the bottom right corner.

Magpies struggled to pick themselves up and get back into the game, uncharacteristically giving the ball away at times and allowing Hampstead and Westminster to play some dangerous balls to their high forwards and wide midfield players. Magpies did create a few goal-scoring opportunities and won a couple of corners after some driving runs into the circle from Emma Lee-Smith, but it was not to be their day.

Five minutes before time Hampstead and Westminster converted another short corner with a neat deflection, to win the game. A disappointing result for Magpies, who will need to lift their spirits before their final game before the mid-season break, away at Sevenoaks.